Thailand - off the beaten track

The Journey

The ultimate Thailand adventure

‘The world’s best driving holiday‘, ‘full beam exotic Asia‘ and ‘a journey into a nation’s soul‘ – The Sunday Times

Northern Thailand has been bussed, cycled, trekked and moped’ed but has it ever been ‘Tuk Tuk’d’? Release your inner cab driver and join us on a trip that puts you in charge of Thailand’s most iconic form of transport. Well, apart from an elephant and that wouldn’t be right, would it? We can guarantee numb bums, shaky arms, ringing ears, huge amounts of fun, more than a touch of luxury and a travel story to bore your friends with for years…

Starting and finishing in the beautiful Mae Wang valley The Tuk Tuk Club takes you on a journey through some of South East Asia’s most spectacular scenery, lets you stay in some of the coolest small hotels in the region and brings you in touch with local communities like you’ve never known before. Ever rocked up to a market in your own Tuk Tuk? If not, you’ve never really seen Thai hospitality at it’s best.

MAE WANG

Our base camp in a stunning valley an hour outside Chiang Mai. This is where you’ll learn how to drive your Tuk Tuk, experience a Temple blessing for the journey ahead and spend some time with elephants at a local elephant home.

DOI INTHANON NATIONAL PARK

Wind your way up tiny roads and through mountain communities before arriving at Thailand’s highest mountain at over 2,500m. A hill tribe village near the National Park is our base for two nights while we explore the area, find beautiful waterfalls and trek through the forest.

MAE SARIANG

Surrounded by forests, mountains and rivers and inhabited by Shan and other Hill Tribe groups, Mae Sariang is a lovely small town with fascinating temples, friendly people and the perfect river to sit by having a well-deserved cold beer.

MAE HONG SON

Forests, rice paddies, trekking and a very cool sunset bar in perhaps the best location in, if not the world, then at least in Thailand. If it was good enough for Brad and Angelina, then it’s probably good enough for us.

PAI

Once the ultimate ‘travellers’ hide away, now the location of your ultimate boutique hotel. Winding up and down mountains we arrive in the outskirts of Pai to spend a couple of nights in a fantastic small resort. Chill by the pool, explore local Temples and forests or indulge yourself and buy some tie-dye…

Winding our way through rural lanes and roads and then over mountain passes to Mae Sariang. A stunning riverside town.

Day 6

Journey up and over more mountains and twisty roads to the spell binding Mae Hong Son. Spend the evening in Thailand’s most beautiful sunset bar.

Day 7

A free day to relax by the pool, explore local trekking trails (with your guide) or venture into Mae Hong Son village. It’s up to you.

Day 8

More mountains, more great coffee shops and incredible vistas as we wind our way to Pai and our stunning hotel for the next two nights.

Day 9

A free day to explore Pai, chill by the pool or explore Temples, waterfalls and hot springs.

Day 10

An awesome day as we head to Mae Wang via incredibly quiet country roads. Journey through picturesque hill-tribe villages, cook eggs at steaming hot springs and have lunch at an historic teak Temple before arriving back at Mae Wang for a well-deserved feast.

Day 11

All good things come to an end. We’ll transfer you back to Chiang Mai city around mid-morning, if you can tear yourself away from your Tuk Tuk.

Important Stuff!

A professional guide and a tour leader with you the whole way – knowledgeable, fun and passionate about Northern Thailand.

Fantastic, twin-share accommodation throughout the trip.

Pick up and drop off in Chiang Mai City.

A Temple blessing, elephant home experience and an awesome trek in Doi Inthanon National Park.

Breakfasts (10), lunches (3) and dinners (5).

A support vehicle taking all your luggage, leaving you to focus on having fun.

The best adventure you’ve ever had!

Can I do this?
Yes – as long as you’ve got a sense of adventure and flexibility of course you can.

What sort of people is this trip for?
Anyone who wants to see the ‘real’ Thailand from a different perspective and be amongst the first people to take part in this sort of travel in Thailand. NOTE: Other than nights 3 and 4 the accommodation is at a high 3* / 4 * level. Nights 3 and 4 are simple and ‘rustic’ but worth it for the amazing location and views.

What do I need to bring?
A sense of humour, casual relaxed clothing and some spending money (around GBP 250-300 will more than enough).

I don’t like Guest Houses!
Nights 3 and 4 in the National Park are in ‘rustic’ accommodation – taking advantage of the stunning surroundings. All other accommodation is of a very high standard (4*) with air-conditioning and even swimming pools (nights 6,7,8 and 9).

What if I don’t want to drive?
That’s fine – no-one is forced to drive but of course we do need at least 1 driver per Tuk Tuk.

I want to travel with a friend?
No problems and actually highly recommended. Rooms are shared on a twin basis and you can even ask to have a Tuk Tuk to yourself.

I want to travel with my family?
A great idea. We can’t allow travellers younger than 7 years old (and of course they can’t drive) but you can ‘comfortably’ fit a family of 4 in your Tuk Tuk for a family adventure to beat all family adventures.

I’m travelling solo?
Brilliant – what better way to make friends than on an adventure like this. There’s something about Tuk Tuks that bring out the sociable side in everyone. You can share a Tuk Tuk and will ‘room’ with another solo traveller throughout the tour. Alternatively, get in touch to ask about single supplements if you’d prefer your own room throughout.

But I’ve got no sense of adventure?
Everyone’s got a sense of adventure even if it’s hidden away. Join us and you’ll soon uncover the adventurer within?

About The Tuk Tuk club

We love travel, we love Thailand and we love a little bit of adventure.

We love Tuk Tuk’s, we love exploring and we love random villages and communities.

We love trekking, we love trying something new and meeting ‘real’ people.

We love ‘interesting’ food, ice cold beer (after a good days adventure) but we also love somewhere comfortable to sleep.

But most of all, we love helping to show people the best of Thailand and to provide a travel experience like no other…

Ring any bells? Sound like you? Come and join us on the best travel experience Thailand offers.

The Tuk Tuk Club was the result of too many long flights, too much thinking / dreaming time and probably a few too many nights of a few too many beers. ‘Surely it’s possible to drive a Tuk Tuk around the mountains of Thailand’, we thought, everyone else seemed to think it wasn’t.

A few months of navel gazing (planning!) later it turns out it is possible and in fact it’s hugely enjoyable and, even better, there are some awesome and very comfortable places to stay en route. And so ‘The Tuk Tuk’ Club was born.

The ‘Club’ is run by people who have been delivering travel experiences in Asia and beyond for years and years and share a huge passion for Thailand, for doing something a ‘little bit’ different and exciting and also helping others to experience and see what they’ve been lucky enough to experience themselves. We’re dedicated to putting the ‘adventure’ back into ‘adventure travel’ and to showing Northern Thailand off at it’s very best.

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